In the past, the question of when to change your car’s oil was mostly suggested by service technicians who recommend the next mileage for changing your car’s oil, something like 3,000 miles. Some car owners used to write down the current mileage and the next mileage for an oil change, referring to it as and when needed.
With the advancement of technology, however, cars today have maintenance warning lights that notify you when your car’s oil needs attention. Using programmed timers, the oil maintenance light prompts you that your oil level is either low or needs to be checked, typically ahead of time, enabling you to plan for maintenance.
Why Should You Reset The Oil Maintenance Light?
The oil maintenance light turns on whenever you must change the oil. The light is triggered by a computer tied to the odometer and counts down miles until you reach a certain threshold.
Resetting the light is one way of ensuring you follow the recommended maintenance schedule correctly. That’s because the light won’t go off by itself once it’s on, even after your car has been serviced. Without resetting it, you will no longer have an accurate indication of when an oil change will be required.
How To Reset The Oil Maintenance Light Of 2010 Prius
So, if you don’t know how to reset the light, follow these instructions:
- You need to turn on your car’s electronics, that is, turn your car on without starting the engine. To do this, push the power button twice without pressing your foot on the brake.
- Set the trip odometer to Trip A. Use the trip button on the right side of the steering wheel and toggle through until you see ‘Trip A’ on the odometer.
- Press the power button once to turn off your car.
- Turn on your car again while pressing and holding the MPH button. The MPH button is in the dashboard’s middle, to the center console’s top left.
- Without pressing your foot on the brake, push the power button twice while you press and hold the MPH button. You should now see the ‘Reset is in progress’ notification on the screen.
- Keep holding the MPH Button until it says, “Reset is complete.” Upon finishing, odometer readings will appear, and the maintenance light will turn off.
Why You Should Never Ignore The Oil Maintenance Light
Completely ignoring the light may turn disastrous, as, without proper lubrication, the engine experiences more friction, excessive heat, and wear and tear. As such, it will not run smoothly and make loud noises, becoming less efficient overall. You could also lose your warranty, and your car’s value may drop should your engine acquire breakages or become faulty.
Therefore, you should send your car to an authorized service center when the motor oil light turns on. It’s also vital to check your motor oil regularly, preferably a few times each week in the morning.
How To Carry Out An Oil Check
Performing an oil check is simple. Your car should be parked on a leveled surface, and the engine should be cool, which is precisely why it’s appropriate to perform the check in the morning. Then, pop up the hood and pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth, reinsert it, pull it out again, and take a look at the stick.
If the level is below the full mark, it’s time to get a top-up. Also, if the oil is too thick and dark in color, you need to get your oil changed.
Summary
The maintenance system within your Toyota Prius works on timers. It’s directly tied to the odometer and counts down miles until it reaches a specific number. The oil light will come on as soon as it reaches it and stay on until you reset it.
Such lights are a good indicator of when maintenance tasks are due, and an oil change is no exception. Without proper lubrication, things will quickly go wrong, and you may end up with expensive repairs. So, check the oil level whenever the light illuminates, and use the instructions provided in the article to reset it correctly.
